Commenting on the news that the Bank of Scotland’s Dunbar branch is set to close next year, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“This is yet another banking blow for East Lothian, which will leave a third local town without any bank branch. My sympathy is with the staff and customers who will be affected by this latest closure.

“Once again, this will make it harder for many business and individual customers to conduct their banking and place additional pressure on local post offices.

“It is clear that the steady withdrawal of local banking services is going to continue and we need to explore alternatives to the traditional high street branches to keep banking facilities in communities.

“I am already planning to meet with representatives of Link regarding the possibility of bringing the banking hub model to East Lothian and will raise this latest development as part of that discussion.”